Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the County Operations Services topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Clark County court confronts staffing, licensing gaps after animal-pickup, roads complaints; merit raises approved
Summary
Clark County Fiscal Court members discussed the stalled dead-animal pickup and composting program, winter-storm road-clearing shortcomings and staffing and licensing gaps; the court approved merit raises for two jail employees and a separate raise for another employee while tabling a promotion pending a feasibility study.
Clark County Fiscal Court members spent a large portion of the meeting on county service issues: the county’s dead-animal pickup and composting program, staffing and certification gaps, concerns about snow and ice road clearing and salt supplies during a recent storm, and personnel merit raises.
Department head Fran Heibert told the court she received two invoices related to ARPA/FLFRF work and that a transfer order she prepared could not be completed because the court had directed moving money out of the O-7 account; she asked where to pay the invoices. She said each invoice was $1,640.68 ("Each are $1,640.68") and raised the payment timing issue to the court.
A prolonged exchange followed about the county compost/animal-pickup program after the county’s certified operator left the program. Court members and residents described the program as cost-saving historically and said its operation requires a certified operator. Court members said there had been two years to prepare for certification transitions and several magistrates criticized a lack of planning when the operator was not reappointed. Court discussion repeatedly returned to whether the county could legally pick up dead animals without a certified operator or written approval from the state licensing branch.
Magistrates and staff described operational strain in the road department during the winter storm: residents provided multiple complaints that county roads were not cleared, while adjacent counties’ roads were described as kept clear. Several magistrates urged improved organization, leadership and a proactive plan for salt procurement. One magistrate said the court would seek temporary phone coverage for the compost/animal program by contracting a temp agency to answer calls.
On the animal-pickup licensing issue, the transcript records a court exchange with an official who said the Energy and Environmental licensing branch needed to be consulted; the judge and court discussed whether a waiver or temporary executive authorization would avoid interruption of service. The court recorded language indicating the court approved a waiver in the meeting ("Court approves his way" in the transcript). Court members also discussed that, if the cabinet provides written permission, pickups could resume without jeopardizing permits.
Personnel matters moved forward by formal vote. The court approved merit increases for Danny Dennis and James O'Brien after a motion and second. Later, a separate motion to give Scott Bailey a raise passed; the transcript records the motion carried.
The court discussed promoting program staff to run the home incarceration program (a proposed promotion of Danny Dennis to coordinator). One magistrate moved to table that promotion until a feasibility study and additional information from the county attorney are provided; the motion to table was carried, and the court directed staff to return with the requested study before making a permanent appointment.
Ending: Court members asked staff to secure written confirmation from the Energy and Environmental licensing branch about whether pickups may proceed, to fill temporary phone coverage at the compost/animal program, and to bring a feasibility study and legal guidance on the home-incarceration coordinator promotion to a future meeting. The court approved several personnel pay actions but tabled the promotion pending additional information.
